The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
North of 60 Mining News - December 6, 2024
The Arctic Restaurant & Hotel in Whitehorse, Yukon was owned by Donald Trump's grandfather.
Frederick Trump
Advertisement for the "Poodle Dog" restaurant in Seattle, circa 1890s. The establishment, which would later be renamed the 'Dairy Restaurant,' catered to transient workers during the economic boom of the late 19th century.
An 18-year-old Frederick Trump.
Frederick and Elisabeth Trump with their children, from left to right: Fred, Elizabeth, and John in 1915.
Few periods in history capture the spirit of reckless adventure and raw ambition quite like the Klondike Gold Rush. Among those drawn to the North was a young Bavarian immigrant with a name that, unbeknownst to most at the time, would one day become a household name – Trump.
Frederick Trump
However, this isn't the Trump most people know today, but his grandfather – a young man who saw an opportunity not in the uncertain prospect of finding gold, but in the needs of those willing to risk everything, choosing instead to "mine the miners" and plant the first seeds of what would grow into an empire.
As the 19th century drew to a close, the final years witnessed a last great rush – an event that marked the closing of one era and built the foundations for the North to become what it is today. Known as the Klondike Gold Rush, it forever changed the fate of America's northern frontier, transforming quiet camps into bustling boomtowns, and reshaping the lives of countless people for generations to come.
One such life was that of Friedrich Trumpf, a young immigrant born in pre-German Bavaria who traveled to America in search of new opportunities. Like many at the time, he left behind limited prospects in Europe, driven by the hope of building a better future in a land often idealized for its promise of prosperity.
Upon arriving in America, Friedrich, who would later anglicize his name to Frederick, pursued a series of ventures that eventually led him toward the prospects emerging in the North. From his early days in New York City to the frontier towns that sprang up along the trails of the Klondike Gold Rush, Frederick adapted to the changing landscape, seeking his fortune by catering to the needs of others.
This spirit of adaptability and entrepreneurship would serve as the foundation for what would eventually become a lasting family legacy.
Rather than panning for gold like so many others during the Klondike Gold Rush, Frederick chose a different path – panning essential services to the prospectors who traveled north. Drawing on his experience running a restaurant and hotel in Seattle, he established a business that offered food, lodging, and other comforts, carving out a profitable niche amidst the chaos.
Frederick's time in the North allowed him to accumulate enough wealth to move beyond the frontier and return to New York. It was there, through subsequent ventures in hospitality and other industries, that he eventually amassed a multi-million-dollar fortune and cemented himself as a titan of American business.
Today, Frederick's legacy finds echoes in the North through a renewed push by President-elect Donald Trump to unlock Alaska's mineral wealth. With strong political backing from the White House and an aligned Congress, the aim to maximize The Last Frontier's mining potential reflects a continued effort to harness the region's rich resources, much like Frederick once did at the edge of American expansion.
If you could summarize the Klondike Gold Rush in one word, it would be ruthless. The rush promised unimaginable wealth but delivered unrelenting hardship and shattered dreams to most who dared to chase it.
Thousands faced unforgiving winter conditions, rampant disease, and thousands of miles through mountain passes, frontier forests, and icy rivers – all in pursuit of a hope that, for many, remained just that.
The path to the Klondike goldfields was a uncompromising test of endurance, grit, and determination. Prospectors would set out from coastal Alaskan towns, such as Skagway and Dyea, often choosing between two grueling routes to the Yukon River: the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass.
The Chilkoot Trail, known as "the meanest 32 miles in the world," challenged travelers with its brutal ascent. After navigating through stretches of rocky terrain and steep, snow-covered slopes, prospectors reached Chilkoot Pass, where they faced a near-vertical climb that required multiple trips to carry heavy loads – sometimes more than a ton of supplies – up the frozen cliff.
While the Chilkoot tested prospectors with its steep, grueling climb, those who opted against it faced an equally daunting journey through White Pass. Known as "Dead Horse Trail" due to the large number of pack animals that perished, White Pass was longer but less steep compared to the Chilkoot.
This route wound through roughly 40 miles of harsh, muddy terrain and presented its own dangers, with narrow, slippery paths often clogged with pack animals and prospectors. The relentless congestion, steep drop-offs, and dangerously thin trails led to tragic losses – not only of animals but also of people crushed or lost under the chaos.
No matter the path chosen, the fortune-seekers, often known as "stampeders," would inevitably converge upon the same daunting phase of their journey. Whether they took the Chilkoot Trail or braved White Pass, both routes led to Lake Bennett, where they faced the same task: constructing makeshift boats and rafts to navigate the Yukon River's icy, unpredictable currents.
It was a test of resourcefulness and perseverance that would ultimately determine whether they could continue the arduous journey to Dawson City in Northern Yukon.
The Yukon River stretched for hundreds of miles and claimed many lives with its fast-flowing currents, rapids, and hidden obstacles. Between navigating the violent river waters and avoiding logjams or ice, this leg of the journey demanded as much determination as the treacherous climbs over the mountains.
Makeshift tent towns sprang up at every stop along the way – crowded, squalid, and alive with desperation, as men and women clung to fantasies of striking it rich. Starvation, frostbite, and despair were as much a part of life in the Klondike as gold fever itself, and yet those who made it through the Chilkoot or White Pass and down the Yukon found themselves on the cusp of the goldfields – a chance, however slim, to transform hardship into wealth.
While tens of thousands of fortune-seekers would face the unforgiving realities of the Klondike Gold Rush, few would find true success. However, before the first whispers of the rush traveled eastward, a young immigrant named Friedrich Trumpf had already begun his journey to America.
An 18-year-old Frederick Trump.
Friedrich was born on March 14, 1869, in Kallstadt, Bavaria (a pre-German region that now resides within the country), the youngest of six children to Christian Johannes Trumpf and Katherina Kober. Facing limited prospects, Frederick decided to emigrate to the United States at the age of 16, arriving in New York City on Oct. 7, 1885.
Historians, including Gwenda Blair in her biography "The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President," noted that his decision may have also been motivated by the looming expectation of mandatory military service. Blair and other historians suggest that he arrived with little in terms of financial resources or family contacts, relying instead on his work ethic and the skills he gained as an apprentice barber in Bavaria to establish himself in a new world.
Author's Note: The following sections draw significantly from Gwenda Blair's biography, "The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President." It is worth noting that while Blair's work is a well-known source on the Trump family, some historians have questioned certain interpretations and the accuracy of some of the details. The information presented here reflects Blair's account, acknowledging that historical records can be complex and at times contradictory.
It is also recorded that he did not speak any English at the time.
Some accounts suggest that while Frederick may have traveled alone, he may not have been entirely without support. His older brother had already been in America for some time, and Frederick likely benefited from his brother's experience, working the trade and learning from him.
Regardless, from available historical records, Frederick worked as a barber for a few years upon his arrival and remained in the city for approximately five years, building up a modest amount of savings. During this time, he lived in the Lower East Side – a bustling area known for its high population of German immigrants, which helped him integrate.
Utilizing his hard-earned capital, Frederick began to exhibit his entrepreneurial spirit and set out West like many did in those days. In 1891, he moved to Seattle, a city bustling with opportunities due to the economic boom of the late 19th century.
Advertisement for the "Poodle Dog" restaurant in Seattle, circa 1890s. The establishment, which would later be renamed the 'Dairy Restaurant,' catered to transient workers during the economic boom of the late 19th century.
According to accounts, Frederick is believed to have purchased an existing establishment known as the "Poodle Dog" and renamed it the "Dairy Restaurant" or just "The Dairy."
This business was located at 208 Washington Street in Seattle's Pioneer Square, a neighborhood known for its bustling nightlife and association with the red-light district.
Like much of Frederick's history, there is debate on whether Poodle Dog actually existed (there is evidence it existed), and that he started the Dairy Restaurant on his own, regardless, his business catered to transient laborers, workers, and adventurers seeking a new life in the expanding frontier. It offered food, liquor, and advertised "Rooms for Ladies" – a phrase that has led to various interpretations.
While some believe this could imply the availability of private rooms for female companionship, the true nature of this offering remains speculative. Historical accounts vary, and no definitive evidence confirms the establishment operated as anything beyond a standard lodging and dining venue.
Regardless, Frederick's establishment became part of the vibrant and diverse fabric of Pioneer Square during this transformative period in Seattle's history – blending legitimate business with the wilder, more ambiguous aspects of the frontier economy.
In the Trump biography, Blair highlights Frederick's journey to the Klondike as a defining chapter in his entrepreneurial story.
When the Klondike Gold Rush began drawing masses of stampeders in 1896, Frederick recognized another opportunity – not in prospecting but in supporting those chasing it. Hence, just a year later, at the age of 28, he left Seattle and headed north, demonstrating his instinct for a more reliable path to profit.
The Klondike Gold Rush was messy, attracting tens of thousands of people seeking their fortunes, with few having the skills or resources to succeed in gold prospecting. Instead of digging for riches, Frederick chose a different path; meeting the needs of those heading to the goldfields.
His first destination was Bennett, British Columbia, which served as a staging ground for prospectors where they paused to build boats that would take them down the Yukon River to Dawson City.
To reach Bennett, Frederick likely had to endure either the grueling Chilkoot Trail or White Pass, both of which posed significant challenges to travelers.
Recognizing the demand for food, supplies, and shelter in this strategic stopover, Frederick set up his first business venture in the region alongside his partner, Ernest Levin. Leveraging the profits he earned from his successful establishment in Seattle, they gained a foothold in the lucrative world of frontier services.
Bennett was a bustling area, filled with people from all walks of life, and a perfect market for Frederick's enterprise. Blair notes that Frederick's decision to focus on infrastructure needs instead of gold prospecting himself spoke volumes about his business instincts. He understood that while gold was uncertain, the needs of the miners were inevitable, and people needed shelter, food, and a place to rest – commodities that he could provide at a premium.
As miners moved further north, some accounts suggest that Frederick followed them to Dawson City – the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush – while others indicate he may have remained primarily in Bennett, focusing his business there.
However, it is known that Frederick and Levin made their way to the capital of Yukon, Whitehorse, where the duo ended up opening an establishment called the Arctic Hotel and Restaurant, which catered to miners' needs.
The North was fraught with risks – bitterly cold winters, unstable supply lines, and the uncertainty of a boomtown economy – but Frederick's calculated gamble paid off. By establishing profitable ventures in Bennett and Whitehorse, Frederick was able to make a significant return on his investments
By 1901, as the initial frenzy of the Klondike Gold Rush began to die down, Frederick and Levin decided it was time to leave. Understanding the transient nature of gold rush towns, a decision that reflected a calm "get out while ahead" mentality.
After this, Frederick initially sought to return to his homeland in Germany with substantial capital and valuable experience.
According to Blair's biography, Frederick intended to settle back in Kallstadt, marry his fiancée, Elisabeth Christ, and lead a comfortable life. However, strict German laws regarding mandatory military service prevented him from obtaining the necessary permissions to settle permanently in Bavaria.
With no other option, Frederick returned to the United States with his new wife, continuing his entrepreneurial pursuits in America.
Frederick and Elisabeth Trump with their children, from left to right: Fred, Elizabeth, and John in 1915.
Perhaps it was the risk of leaving home at such a young age to an entirely new land; perhaps it was the apparent fearlessness of traveling out West in a time where many perished through the journey; perhaps it was a foray into the dangers of an environment that all but consumed many a man and woman; or perhaps it was the years of tempering in such environments and coming out alive and on top that led to the future business empire that the Trumps are known for.
Nevertheless, Frederick continued to demonstrate an uncanny ability to assess risk, read the landscape, and capitalize on the needs of others – all while minimizing his own exposure to the volatility of human nature.
His understanding that true wealth lay in supporting those seeking their fortune became the foundation upon which the Trump family legacy would be built, turning brief chances into lasting success.
Frederick's entrepreneurial spirit lives on through his children and grandchildren, particularly his son Fred Trump Sr., who would expand on the family fortune by building a successful real estate empire in New York City.
Decades later, the legacy that began in the goldfields of the Klondike would reach new heights with the birth of Frederick's grandson, Donald J. Trump, on June 14, 1946. Donald would go on to become not just a real estate magnate but also a global figure, ultimately ascending to the highest office in the land as the 45th President of the United States, and future 47th President.
From a young immigrant seeking his fortune in an unknown land to the birth of a future president, the Trump story is one of ambition, risk-taking, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity – a journey that started with Frederick's decision to "mine the miners" rather than the gold itself and ended up shaping the course of American history.
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